Raukaua simplex

Raukaua simplex, commonly known as haumakāroa, is a species of evergreen plant in the Araliaceae family. This species is native to New Zealand. The species occurs in certain lowland, montane and subalpine forests from the Waihou River southward to Stewart Island and the Auckland Islands. An example occurrence in Westland forests includes associates such as Cyathea smithii and Dicksonia squarrosa.

Description

Raukaua simplex grows as a shrub to small tree up to 8m in height.
The species exhibits a significant change in appearance between its juvenile and adult form. Juvenile leaves are palmately compound, 3-5 leaflets, and deeply lobed. Adult leaves are simple, with toothed margins.

Taxonomy

Raukaua simplex was first described in 1786 by Georg Forster as Panax simplex in Florulae Insularum Australium Prodromus. In 1997, Mitchell, Frodin and Heads redescribed it, assigning it to the genus, Raukaua, thus naming it Raukaua simplex.